Folding table



(No Model.)

. S. L. THOMPSON.

FOLDING TABLE No. 544,603. Patented Aug. 13, 1895.

QQZO7%SO Z WITNESSES jjvmwroza pd? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN L. THOMPSON, OF KINGFIELD, MAINE.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,603, dated August 13, 1895.

' Application tiled June 6, 1895- Serial No. 551,869. No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN L. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Kingfield, in the county of Franklin and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as'will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to providea table which is simple in construction, and in which the supporting-legs are so constructed and arranged that they can be folded in close proximity to the top of the table.

The invention consists in providing the top of a table with longitudinal strips on its under side, which are connected to each other by transverse braces, one end of the longitudinal strips being enlarged to receive bolts which attach a pair of supporting-legs thereto and the opposite end having depending ratchetbars of peculiar construction, the table being also provided with a leg consisting of two sections adjustable one upon the other, all as will be hereinafter fullyset forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the' accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a table constructed in accordance with my invention, the main supporting-legs being shown folded against the top in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view, and Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4 4 of Fig.- 2.

A designates the top of the table, which has rigidly attached thereto longitudinal strips A A, which are braced by transverse battens A attached to the longitudinal strips and to the top of the table. One end of the longitudinal strips A is provided with depending portions through which pass bolts b for connecting the legs B thereto.

a designates rack-bars which are struck up of sheet metal in trough shape, so as to pro-.

vide depending portions ohaving rack-teeth and depending portions 0. with straight lower edges. The intermediate portion of the rackbars is about the same width as the longitudinal strips A, and is attached to the lower edge of said strips.

To the legs B B are pivoted legs B B, and to the upper ends of the latter are attached metal end pieces I), which are adapted to engage with the rack-teeth of the depending portion'a of the rack-bars, and the end of each leg B is also provided with a book 12 adapted to engage pins projecting from the longitudinal strips A.

It will be noted that the legs B and B are provided with suitable rounds to brace them against lateral movement.

0 designates an extensible leg which is made up of two sections adjustable upon each other, the sections being held in an adjusted position by means of a bolt and set-nut.

When the leg 0 is not in use it is folded against the under side of the top of the table and held in such position by a turn-button carried by the central transverse batten, said batten having a transverse recess in which one section of the leg lies.

One section of the leg 0 is provided with a longitudinal slot through which the connecting bolt passes, and the other section has a longitudinal groove which engages with a projecting portion of the section having the slot.

A table constructed as hereinbefore described can be cheaply manufactured and can be adjusted to different heights, and when it is desired to use an excessively-high table the legs B are caused to engage with the ratchetteeth nearest the center of the table, and when in such position the extensible legO is used. The extensible leg is also useful when it is desired to use the table as an ironingboard, as said leg can be readily swung inward to place a skirt or other garment upon the board. The depending portions a of the rack-plates serve to prevent lateral movement of the upper ends of the. legs B, so there is no liability of said legs becoming accidentally detached. The depending portion a also serves to guard the ratchet-teeth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A folding table the top thereof having longitudinal stripshaving enlarged portions at one end, rack-bars attached to the other end of the longitudinal strips, legs B B connected to the enlarged ends of the longitudinal strips and having legs 13' B pivoted thereto,n1etal tips 19 secured to the upper ends of the legs B, and hooks 19 carried by said legs for engagement with pins projecting from the longitudinal strips, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a table the top thereof having longitudinal strips A rigidly secured thereto, legs B and B centrally pivoted to each other one pair of legs being bolted to one end of the longitudi- 

